Hat-protector.



PATENTED SEPT. 10, 1907.

J. S. MILLS.

HAT PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION EILED DEC. 6. 1905. .VRENEWED AUG.16. 1007.

ZNVENTOR A/zomey JAMES s. MILLS, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

'moa.

HAT-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1907.

' Application filed December 6, 1905, Serial No. 290,575. Renewed August 15, 1907. Serial N6. 388,669. I

To all whom 'it may-concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES S. MILLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hat-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in hat protectors; and the objects are to provide a protective covering and envelop for a hat which will exclude all moisture from direct contact with the outer surface of the hat; to construct a protector for the purpose indi-' cated which is neat in appearance and durable in use;

and to provide a device which is easily placed in posi tion, readily removed from the hat, and which may be conveniently folded and deposited within the hat, or folded and placed in a pocket or other convenient receptacle when not in use.

It will be stated that the device is particularly applicable to straw hats of a well known and common shape and style, such as are indicated in the drawings; but it is readily perceived that the protector may be changed to apply to hats of other shapes With-1 out departing from the general design or construction.

With the objects in view, the invention embodies a new and improved article of manufacture, as hereinafter fully specified, and the asserted novelty then particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

I have fully and clearly illustrated the improvements in the accompanying drawings, to be taken as a part of this specification, and-wherein:

Figure 1 is a central sectional view of a hat having the improved protector applied thereto.- Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of a hat covered and shielded by the protector, the contour of the hat being indicated by the dotted lines. Fig. 3 lie a central vertical sectional view of a hat, showing the protector collapsed and disposed in the crown of the hat. Fig. 4 is a view, partly in section, showing the protector folded into a shape for carrying in a pocket or other receptacle; the cord or crown cord being removed to produce greater flexibility to the whole.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a straw hat of well known shape, having a straight crown, vertical sides, and straight brim, substantially as indicated; but it is apparent that since the protector is made of flexible and foldable material it may be. applied to dust.- The crown or top is formed and defined by a band .of suitable material having some flexibility, which is secured thereto and so positioned that, when the protective covering or shield is disposed on the a hat, it will be just below the top or crown of the hat, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The band 3 is made preferably with a slip connection at its meeting ends to provide forexpansion or contraction, as indicated at 4' in Fig. 2- of the drawings.

"The sides of the protector from the band 3 are con-- tinued straight downwards, as at 5, for the height of the crown, as shown, to the unionof the crown with the brim, whence it is continuedin alinement with the upper face of the brim, as at 6, to the edge thereof, whence it is down and back under the brim, as at 7, forming an annular turned-in flange, so thatby this turned-in engagement the protector will be held securely in place, yet detachable from the hat.

The band or strip 3 is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as attached to the outer surface of the fabric constituting the protector. This band is preferably made of some light material having the proper degree of elasticity and bamboo strips having been found satisfactory for this purpose.

To shape the protector to the contour of the hat and to aid in holding it in place, a rubber or elastic band or ring 8 is drawn over the crown until it lodges in the angle at the union of the crown and brim, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The device may be collapsed and placed in the crown of vthe hat, simply by compressing the sides between the top and the elastic ring 8, and then placing it in the hat, where it is held by the frictional contact of the band 3 and the ring 8 with the walls of the crown, as seen in Fig. 3; or should the device be carried in a pocket it may be folded as-indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

For convenient manipulation a button 9 is secured to the center of the crown.

To utilize the protector, allthat is necessary is to stretch it down on the ciown to the intended position, the contraction of the elastic 8 holding it in place,

then the brim position is carried outwards, and then b i portion 7 may b stretched f f the hat (reacts with the inner wall of the crown for frictionaIIy 10 brim when the device can be lifted from the hat holding the protector in collapsed positionv within the p crown of the hat. v a I 91mm 151 In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in-presence In a. hatprotector, the combination with crown and" of two subscribing witnesses.

brim parts made of material impervious to moisture and an elastic band co-acting with the protector at the ju nc- JAMES f ture of the crown and brim parts, of an expansible strip Witnesses: associated with the upper edge of the crown constitut- FREDIRICK V, WINTERS,

ing a ring which defines the top of the crown and which WILLIAM TOUNE. 

